This is a widespread, variable species of somewhat shady habitats on mesic to subhydric fertile soils across eastern North America, but it is absent from most of the saoutheastern Coastal Plain (FNA 23, K). C. normalis can easily be confused with several other species; see notes under molesta, brevior and tenera. Its identification can be difficult with existing keys (e.g. FNA 23; Rothrock et al. 2009). Typical normalis has greenish perigynia and moderately broad leaves (2.5-6.5 mm wide), with sheaths "conspicuously green-veined adaxially nearly to collar" (often with green cross-veins mottled against the whitish interveinal tissue). However, these characters are not clear in some colls. from Ky. Moreover, several colls. from Ky. have relatively congested inflorescences, suggesting a distinct variant. C. normalis shares the same chromosome numbers (2n = 68-72) as some closely related species, and it is possible that hybrids occur.